Does anyone care what WAC says?

This is John Rodabaugh, WAC President here. I asked our Web & Social Media Guy to post the cartoon up after he seemed a bit shy about it. It's not a WAC cartoon, it's been out there for some time, and we just stumbled across it today. That said, it's worth looking at on several levels.

I asked him to put it up for several reasons. First, I thought the cartoon itself was funny - we often take ourselves far to seriously, and it does point out the ridiculousness of anti-gun policies.

Second, I think it's important that we don't bury our head in the sand. We need to pay attention to not only what our anti-gun opponents are doing and saying, but to what our allies (the folks who agree with us on some things, but not everything) are thinking. I believe the artists comments illustrate the battle for hearts and minds we're going to face this fall with the Initiatives. We all know that the best background check in the world is only a snapshot of one moment in time and doesn't even reliably predict behavior minutes later - but many in the gun community and far more in the general public don't have the experience or knowledge to understand that they are both a vast waste of time and money while serving as a form of prior restraint upon a fundamental right.

Third, WAC has been doing voluntary member background checks for nearly 20 years. That's fundamentally different than a mandatory background check required every time someone *transfers* (not sells, but transfers) a firearm.

Finally, I am tired of the peanut gallery eager to ascribe everything from jay-walking to genocide to WAC every time we don't hue to their particular definition of purity - and rushing forth to call WAC names, try and badmouth us to our members and table holders and generally stir up trouble.

John, there is no question that there are ugly issues with Wes holding a show the same day as WAC, but this cartoon (and included editorial) doesn't do law abiding firearm owners any favors.

We are all trying to fight the good fight, and even spread the word that the FBI reported that LESS THAN 1% of criminals get their guns at gun shows.

This cartoon and editorial makes the play that non-WAC shows are a breeding ground for criminals and criminal activity. We should be banding together here, because if 594 passes, your shows will be affected as well.

The WAC is showing true class.

I am an unapologetic non supporter of the WAC due to a number of issues.

The fake WAC "background check" being one of them. It gets done all right - once, when you join.

Pay your membership dues, and if any hiccups with the law happened after you became a member, it's all good.

You can be a felon, and still buy at a WAC show, because you are a member in "good standing".

There is a rumor that a few WAC executive members might have issues in that regard.

Plus, there was the mystery of where the building fund money to build a separate WAC venue went off to a few years back.

It is also less than transparent as to how all funds generated by the WAC are allocated each year.

As for this little episode, it just points to the lack of tact and insecurity the WAC is capable of.

Their membership has been shrinking steadily, and their shows are dominated by big FFL dealers, manufacturers, and other retailers.

Wes Knodel runs shows that remind me of the good old WAC days, when hobby collectors and independent small time vendors were dominant.

It isn't perfect, but it is eclectic, and you are far more likely to score something cool as a result.

It just plain makes for a better gun show.

It also helps that Wes and his staff are just plain nice folks to deal with, too.

OH YEAH, ALMOST FORGOT - EVERY WES KNODEL GUN SHOW FIREARMS TRANSACTION REQUIRES A SALES RECEIPT WITH WASHINGTON DRIVERS LICENSE ID, SERIAL NUMBER, AND DESCRIPTION OF THE FIREARM BEING PURCHASED.

That, to my mind, is better than a one time only "background check".

WAC is shaking in their boots, and flinging poo into the wind.

They made their bed, and now they have to lay in it for better, or for worse.

The wind is starting to turn, and I feel that they will end up wearing a lot of poo in the face as a result.

John Rodabaugh single handed fucked the show so bad it is where it is today.
He welcomed in Washington State D.O.R. to a private CLUB.

I can't sign in to post, but John Rodabaugh is trying to play a game he can only win via oppression of the facts. He can complain all he wants about people "badmouthing" WAC, but when he pulls little stunts like this, it's like smoking at an oil refinery and whining about losing his eyebrows.

John, if you're reading......be a man and either pull that cartoon down or be honest about your true intentions. You're becoming transparent and it's not looking good to those who can see right through your crap.

for them to stoop down this low, and try to put a spin on it as just funny is outrageous...

I have many times considered renewing my WAC membership, but seriously if the T-dome shows become a regular show, I'll probably go there instead...

WAC knows this and for a long time the monopoly was fine.. but now that there is competition, they realize their revenue will suffer...

It would be nice if people at the WAC report back on how many people showed up there.. probably not going to be even close...

but to be honest, the sheriff taking OR CPL's at the t-dome swayed me there if I was ever on the fence on going..

.I hope the Tacoma Dome shows become a regular event. I will go on a consistent basis.

But...

I've been to numerous Wes Knodel shows and not only walked away empty handed, but also shaking my head and wondering why I just wasted X amount of time....

I'm a WAC member, but the posting of that cartoon is a shitty enough move that I would boycott the Puyallup show and go solely to the Tacoma show . . . if I was in town that day at all.

Folks running WAC are this blind to the big picture? That hurts, man.